Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Grasshopper and TJ Scallywaggles

I haven't had much time to post. That is partly because of more traveling for work. Most of my meals have been made up of leftovers. Sometimes I forget that I am just one and I don't cut the recipe in half. That means I may eat the same variations for a few days.

I did cook up some sauteed chard with pine nuts and garlic. When I was in Maine last weekend, a friend gave me some chard from her garden.

Tonight, I met my father for dinner in Boston at Grasshopper. Since I haven't cooked much, I brought along my camera to snap some photos of our dinner.

My dad ordered the Special Taro Nest. The bowl is edible and made from fried taro strips. Inside are veggies and various mock meats in a tasty sauce. It all sits on a bed of watercress. This was definitely one of my favorite dishes when I first visited Grasshopper.

I ordered my current addiction which is called Happy Family. It is asparagus, seitan, and tofu in a "spicy" (not very) chili basil sauce. Unfortunately I can't get enough of this, so I often fail to try a new dish because I go with my standby. Notice how big the portions are! I brought half of that and the brown rice home with me.

When we left, I walked with my dad back to his car and pointed out a relatively new vegan restaurant that is a few stores down from Grasshopper. It is called TJ Scallywaggles. It is vegan comfort food. You'll find subs, pizza, salads, calzones, gyros, pasta, smoothies, and dessert. The food is good and it is pretty safe places to bring your omni friends as they will recognize most items on the menu.

Vegandoc raved about TJ's cheese cake, so I figured I might get a slice to go. While my dad and I talked outside, the owner stepped out to say hi. After my dad left, I went in and ordered the cheese cake and got a chance to talk with the owner some more. What a nice guy! I'm always excited to talk with other veg*n folks. Though I love my omni friends, I often feel like we are on different wavelengths.

At any rate TJ's is owned by people who are very into social responsibility and creating a community. They want build a restaurant concept that can easily be duplicated and is enticing to both veg*ns and omnis while staying true to their ethical beliefs.

While I was there, a gentleman from a veg band stopped in. He had just returned from CA and was telling us about their van which they converted to run on bio-diesel.

Obviously the owners made a great impression on me and I'd like to encourage you to check this restaurant out if you are in the Boston area. Oh, and I agree with Heather...the cheese cake was wonderful.

15 comments:

urban vegan said...

*POUTING*

I want a TJ Scallywags.

Harmonia said...

I want to go! :) Could you post a review in v.o.? If you haven't already.

Sounds neat!

Emmy said...

Those restaurants sound awesome!!!!

Dori said...

If I ever visit the boston area, this restaurant food looks very artfully served. I love it... the asparagus "sun rays" , my favorite.

Catherine Weber said...

Jody, the food looks awesome! I may be in Boston sometime in the next couple of years, and I'll definitely check out those restaurants! Wowzers.

Anonymous said...

Yum! TJ Scallywags sounds like a great place. I read their menu and their history. So wishing that we had a veg restaurant here. Anything. I'm really not picky. Please someone... Start something.

Rachael said...

fabulous, as soon as I move out of Boston to Syracuse (where there are NO veg restaurants...you're lucky if chinese restaurants have tofu on the menu), another veg restaurant opens in Boston. I have actually never been to grasshoppers, even though I lived in the area for over 20 years. oh well, more places to eat when I go visit the folks.

Carrie™ said...

I'm very envious of your restaurants. Grasshopper looks and sounds wonderful. And TJ Scallywaggles is right up my alley. Vegan gyros! I miss a lot of the Greek food I used to eat with my friend Mark, the one who looks like Gordon Downie that I spoke of in my Tragically Hip post. That was our thing...Greek food and too much to drink. See, now if I had something like that here, we could indulge again.
Cheesecake!! Holy doodle! You're killing me over here. Like Rachel, I have NO vegetarian restaurants where I live.

karen said...

WOW!! TJ Scallywags sounds fantastic. That is great that they are friendly, ethical and vegan!

It's so nice that your dad will go to Grasshopper with you. I have a vegan place here that my family will go to with me, too. the food looks so good!

I have to come back to Boston soon! Maybe within the next year...

KleoPatra said...

Hi Jody! Back in town i am, and hope you are as well. These all look truly tasty.

Mikaela said...

My boyfriend has the same issue that you have with Happy Family from Grasshopper. It's called the Grilled Seitan Steak from Horizons in Philadelphia :)

-Mikaela

Jody from VegChic said...

uv - TJ's and Grasshopper are both great, but you have some pretty nice restaurants over there in PA!

harmonia - I will definitely post a TJ's review this week.

vegan diva- Thx for stopping by.

dori - Grasshopper does a neat job with the serving. I love the asparagus sun ray too!

catherine - lmk when you are visiting here!

Crystal - That is frustrating. Sometimes it is really tough to try to go out for dinner and "make your own" veg options.

rachael - I hope thing are going a little better for you. Boston is certainly starting to be more veg friendly. Sorry you never got to try Grasshopper. If you guys ever make your way up here to Boston again, let me know. I'll meet you at Grasshopper.

Carrie - I can imagine how frustrating the lack of veg options is. Im a big fan of greek food too. There is a pretty good greek place near my office and I can usually make a good veg lunch out of side dishes! I'll check out your tragically hip post later.

kleo - Glad you are back and can't wait to see your pics from the trip.

Mikaela - Thanks for stopping by...how cool is that? The same stuff in Philly. BTW - I was lurking over at your blog last week.

Everyone - Thanks again for checking in, I've been traveling for work (with Tommy this time). I've got a few good stories about that! I just got home late last night. I'll be checking everyone's blogs and trying to get a new post done soon.

Jody from VegChic said...

uv - TJ's and Grasshopper are both great, but you have some pretty nice restaurants over there in PA!

harmonia - I will definitely post a TJ's review this week.

vegan diva- Thx for stopping by.

dori - Grasshopper does a neat job with the serving. I love the asparagus sun ray too!

catherine - lmk when you are visiting here!

Crystal - That is frustrating. Sometimes it is really tough to try to go out for dinner and "make your own" veg options.

rachael - I hope thing are going a little better for you. Boston is certainly starting to be more veg friendly. Sorry you never got to try Grasshopper. If you guys ever make your way up here to Boston again, let me know. I'll meet you at Grasshopper.

Carrie - I can imagine how frustrating the lack of veg options is. Im a big fan of greek food too. There is a pretty good greek place near my office and I can usually make a good veg lunch out of side dishes! I'll check out your tragically hip post later.

kleo - Glad you are back and can't wait to see your pics from the trip.

Mikaela - Thanks for stopping by...how cool is that? The same stuff in Philly. BTW - I was lurking over at your blog last week.

Everyone - Thanks again for checking in, I've been traveling for work (with Tommy this time). I've got a few good stories about that! I just got home late last night. I'll be checking everyone's blogs and trying to get a new post done soon.

The Massey Family said...

I am new to the Boston area, and I can't wait to try these places! (It will be a long haul for me though cause I live in Cambridge...the restauraunts are in Allston, right?)

The Massey Family said...

Thanks for the information about vegetarian restaurants. I will definitely come to the lunch on Septemer 2, it sounds like a lot of fun! It would be fun to get together for dinner too but I am not sure when...maybe next week sometime? It ounds like you travel alot. By the way, I loked at your soap page. The soap looks gorgeous. How did you get into soap making? How long does it take?